Earth-boring apparatus



March 4, '1924.

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.ATTORNEY 1,485,455 T. J. FREDA EARTH Beams AFPARATUS Filed Nov. 14.192i '7 sheets-sheet 2 March 4 1924.

WwW/y ATTORNEYJ Marchl 1924. Y

' T. J.: FRED/ EARTH 'BORING APPARATUS E Filednov. 14. 1921 7sheets-sheet s March 4 1924.` 1,485,455

Y T. J. FREDA EARTH "BORING APPARATUS Fil Nov. 14. 19211 7 sheet-sheet 47' INVENTOR.

MeO/OZHJ A TTORNEYS March, 4 1924. s' 1,485,455

'r. J, FREDA EARTH BORING .APPARATUS v Filed Nov; 14. 1.921 'rsheets-'Sheet e lll Ail

ATTORNEYS- March 4, 1924! y 1,435,455,A

T. -fur-'REM EARTHBoR'ING APPARATUS Filet; Nolfilfigz l INVENTOR,

.if l Rev/2712? Patented Mar. 4i, E924.

MFSASS uairaa stares maaar carica.

THEOPHIL J. FREDA, F DETROXT, MICHIGAN.

EARTH-BORING AFPARATUS.

Appiieationiiied November 14, 1921. seriai No. 514,859.

c. lowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings. This invention relates to an earth boring machineand has special reference to a portable machine that may be moved fromplace c to place for excavating purposes. On a small scale. ofconstruction the machine or apparatus may be used for digging openingsfor silos, wells, foundations, shafts, etc., and on a large scale ofconstruction it may be employed to provide entries to tunnels, mines,sewers, quarries, etc. In either instance the machine or apparatuspossesses the following cliaracteristic-s: v

First, the machine may be easily transported from on'e place to anotherand readily set up to pei-init of a hole being progressively dug and theloosened earth delivered to the surface of the ground and into suitabletransporting Vehicles, thereby eliminating all manual handling of exeavated earth and permitting of a hole being expeditiously andeconomically dug.

Second, the boring machine includes a plurality of separable units whichcan be joined or built 'upon one another to provide a skeleton shaft orcasing that may extend into the earth a desired depth. the shaftl unitslbeing progressively assembled as a hole is dug to permit ot' bbring ordigging instrumentalities being rigidly supported at the bottoni of thehole and `operated from the top thereof.

Third, there is an auger, spiral cutter, loading platforms and bucketconveyor. together with novel operating mechanism therefor, and all ofthese elements are assembled in a compact inaniiei' so that one may liesomewhat. braced by others. These devices are assembled as a unit andareemployed for starting a hole. after which other units are added asthe boring progresses.

My invention includes a transportable surface machine; a power plant andoperating mechanism: skeleton casings or depth units.: a spiral sci-ewconveyor and its operating mechanism; discharge platforms, chutes andbucket conveyor with its operating mechanism, and, a spiral cutter,auger .andits operating mechanism. All of these devices will behereinafter separately oonsidered,under suoli captions, and then thegeneral operation of the machine o,r apparatus described.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein l Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the.bor ing unit of the apparatus, artly broken away andpartly in section, sliowing its location in the ground; Fig. 2 is avertical same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the complete `sectional view ot theapparatus showing diagrammatically its relation to a bored hole: V

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the end of a centering screw or auger;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectonal'view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.'2; i

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of thesurface machine, illustrating the operating mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a similar view taken on the line Y ile-9 ot Fig. 7,illustrating the center spindle of the apparatus: y

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional View t aken on the linel 10 10 of Fig.7, showing power transmission niechanisin; i

Fig. 1l is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line ll-ll of Fig.7;

Fig. 12 is a plan` of thesurtace machine:

Fig. 13. is a horizontal sectional view taken on the linel l8l3 ot' Fig.7;

Fig. Mis an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 14-l4 of.Fig. 7V;

Fig. l5 is a side elevation ot an intermediate unit of the apparatus;

Fig. 16 is a similar viewof a spindle unit of the apparatus; A

Fig. 17 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of Fig.7;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic elevation of the apparatus, and

Fig. 19 is a perspective of one of. thevbucki- Y ets of the bucketconveyor.` p

In describing my invention by 'aid of the views above referred to,'Idesire to point out that the saine are intended as merelv illus theappended claims.

As pointed out in the beginning vthe invention will be described underthe various captions previously mentioned, andl reference` will now behad to that portion of the l apparatus which is above ground.

this framework 4Init of units of theapparatus being easily l assembledas a hole 6 7 beneath the shaft 4.

'vform extension 10 is a vertically disposed may be steerable,

Transportable surface machine' and its framework. I

(Figs. a, 7, 11, Aand 12.)

The surface'machine comp'risesV a strong and durable rectangular -frame1 suitably mounted on trucks 2, iie of which trucks and ,the machine isadapted to be moved from place to place by a tractor or other source ofpowery attached to the frame 1 at an end piece 3.' After the machine islocated at a site of operationv the trucks 2 are adapted to be blockedor chucked, :as shown in ,ig. 3.

(illentrally of the frame l is a vertical shaft framework'4 rigidly heldby braces 5 and islof sufficient height to peris bored in the ground Inthe shaft 4 and supported from the walls thereof is a cylindrical casing8 and the upper end of said casing has a side opening 9 providingclearance for a tongue 10 of a platform 11 located within said casing,the tongue 10 serving as an extension of the platform and, extendingover the rear end of the frame 1, to which it is secured by` anglebrackets 12 or other fastening means.

The casing 8, at the base of the opening 9, has a horizontal platform orextension 13 below the platform tongue or extension 10, and in the upperportion of the casing 8 is an inwardly projecting bracket 14 for a feedscrew 15 which is axially of the casing 8 and adapted for raising andlowering the boring units, particularly lowering the same as the boringoperations are carried on.

Mounted centrally of the platform 11 is the hub or bearing portion 16 ofa stationary head 17, and said head is provided with anti-frictionalbearings 19 and 20.

well known type of tractor 2() having a side pulley drive 21 can beconveniently used or moving my apparatus from one place to another, alsoas a power plant when the wheels of the tractor are held on the groundby blocks or chucks 22.

vJournaled in the platform 13 and the plat -pulley or belt wheel 24shaft 23 and keyed or otherwise mounted on'the lower end of the shaft isa horizontal with a belt guard 25 beneath it and supported by the casing8 and the lower end of the shaft 23. Trained over the pulleys 21 and 24is an endless belt 26 by which power may be transmitted from.

the tractor 20 to the shaft 23.

Mounted on the upper end of the shaft 23 are superposed sprocket wheels27, 28, and 29 and slidably keyed,y on the shaft is a beveled gear wheel30 meshing with a beveled gear wheel 31 mounted on a shaft 32, journaledin an upright 33, carried by the platform extension 10. On the shaft 32is a sprocket wheel 34 and from the sprocket wheel may be derived powerfor operating the feed screw 15 by (not shown).

Rotatablc on the anti-frictional bearings 18 of the head 17 is a'largehorizontal turn table 35 having its periphery in the form of a sprocketwheel 36 so that a sprocketchain 37 may be trained over the sprocketwheels 27 and 36 to permit of the turn table being revolved, it beingunderstood that-the platform 11 is suliciently cut away to provideclearance for the sprocket chain 37. -The turn table 35 has an internalrack 38 and meshing with this rack are a plurality of pinions 39 carriedby the upper ends 0f.an equal number of drive spindles 40, said spindlesbeing vertically disposed and journaled in the stationary head 17 withthe lower ends of said spindles extending to the lower end of the head.

any suitable mechanism f Engaging the anti-frictional bearings 19 I ofthe stationary head 17 is a collar 41 which is attached to the turntable 35 by a plurality of turn buckles 42, these turn. bucklesdepending from the collar` 41, between the casing 8 and the stationaryhead 17.

Journaled in the hub or`bearing 16 ofthe stationary head 17 .is an outertubfular spindle or shaft 43 and in this tubular shaft is an innercenter shaft or spindle 44 which may be suitably connected to the feedscrew 15 so that it mayrbe raised and lowered. On the upper end of theouter shaft 43 is a sprocket wheel 45 for a sprocket chain ,46 extendingfrom the sprocket wheel 28. On the upper end of the inner shaft 44 is asprocket wheel 47 for a sprocket chain 4 8 extending from the sprocketwheed 29, so that the inner and outer shafts of the stationary head 17may be driven from the tractor driven shaft 23. In referring tosprocketwheels and sprocket chains in f connection with my apparatus', it vis tobe' understood that 'other power transmission elements'may be readilysubstituted for this power transmission mechanism. l

In order that the operating mechanism, including the platform 11, may beraised and lowered by the screw 15, relative to the cesmaal-ies top ofthe shaft 4 solthat the operating mechanism may be bodily shifted to thetop of the framework to permit of units being mounted below theoperating mechanism, and reference will now be had to one of the units.

Skeleton accinge or depth emita. (Figs. s, 7, s, e, 13, 15, and 16.)

Each unit comprises a plurality of equally spaced uprights 51 connectedby interior spiders 52 and exterior bands 53, the spiders and bandsbeing equally spaced throughout the length of the upright and betweenthe bands and spiders are dagonat ly disposed curved braces 54 which tiethe structural elements together and into a rigid skeleton frameworkpossessing rigidity and light enough in weight to be readily handled atthe surface machine.

Centrally of the spiders 52 ane xtending throughout the length of theunit is tubular bearing 55 and in said bearing is a ction of an outershaft 56 and a section of an inner shaft -57. Considering the unit whichis in proximity to the operating mechanism in the casing 8, and shown inFig. 7, the inner shafts s4 and 57 are coupled by a tongue and grooveconnection 56 so that said shafts will revolve together in the outershaft, and said outer shafts are coupled together, for rotativecontinuity, by sleeves 59 fixed to the outer shafts by set screws 60' orother fastening means. The lower ends of the inner and outer shafts areadapted to be connected to the shafts of an adjoining unit in a similarmanner, .and the ends of the uprights 51 are connected to the stationaryhead 17. and to the ends of adiacent uprights` by couplingr sleeves 61and set screws 62 or other fastening means. so that the units will beheld in perfect alinement epd suspended beneath the stationary headJournaled in the outer end of the spiders 52 are spindles 63 and thesespindles have tongue and groove connections 6 4 with the spindles 40 andalso the spindles of any adjoining'unit.l s

Each unit also inclulesv a set of connecting rods 65 which are lcoupledto the turn buckles 42 by coupling sleeves or members 66, and similarsleeves or members are employed for connecting therods of adjoinv ingunits. As shown in Fig. 16 the4 rods 65 may be tied together vby bands67 to prevent swaying of said rods when a large number of units areassembled and this view also illustrates how spindles may be connectedin the lowermosiI unit of the apparatus. In some instances the spindles63 may be in bearings 68 between the spiders 5201" each unit, as shownin 'F ig. 7, and with said units of a less depth than the shaft 4, theoperating mechanism, including a plat. form 11 may be raised and unitsplaced in the casing 8 and coupled together so that the hole 6 may bebored to any desired depth.

Spiral or screw vorweg/or and ts operating mechanism.

(Figs. l, 2, and 3.)

The lowermost unit of the apparatus includes uprights 68 similar to theuprights v51 of other units, with-the exception that the lower ends ofthe uprights 68 are connected by a head 69 into which extends thestationary tubular bearing 70 corresponding to the bearings 55 of otherunits.

This bearing cooperates with the uprights 68 in supporting spiraldischarge platforms 71, one arranged above the other at one side of thebearing 70, that is, consideringl the space between the uprights 68 ofthe lower unit, as well as the uprights 51 of other units, to besubstantially circular, the plat-v chronism with the collar 41 and theturn table 35. The spiral conveyor has its spiral or screw conformationgradually increasing in pitch or tilted so that earth will work towardsthe center of the conveyor and be discharged on either of the platforms71, the lowermost platform taking care of the majority of the earth andany excess earth may be carried to the uppermost platform.`

Surrounding the lower ends of the uprights 68 is a sleeve 74 providedwith a spi- -ral or screw conveyor 75 adapted to form part of a spiralcutter to be hereinafter described. The sleeve 74 has'an internal rack76 and meshing with said rack are pinions 7 7 on spindles 76V whichextend through the discharge platforms 71 and are coupled to thespindles 63 of superposed units, so thatbthe conveyor 75 may be alsorevolved in synchronisrn with the turn table 35.

Buc/.fet convey/0r. (Figs. 4, 6, 11, and 18.) rlhe platform l1 and thestationary head l7fhave sector shaped openings 79 providing clearancefor an endless bucket conveyor comprising an endless chain 80 providedwith spaced buckets 81. On the buckctsSl are shoes S2. T-shaped in crosssection and adapted to slide iu guide grooves 83 provided therefor inrails 84 forming part of each unit and also part vof the platform 11, so

that the ascending and descending buckets will at all times be retainedat one side .of the hole and may enter the lowermost unit and receiveearth from the discharge platform 7l. Suitably supported in thelowermost unit is a sprocket wheel about which the lower end of thechain 80 is trained and other sprocket "-.vheels 86 will be supported bythe casing 8 so that the sprocket chain 80 maybe driven by a sprocketchain 87 from the sprocket wheel 31 or any other source of power. Byreference to Fig. 18, it will be noted that after the buckets leave thehole 6 said buckets are carried to one side tov discharge the earth onan endless apron 88 or into vehicles, the endless apron being aconvenient means of casting the earth to one side and said apron may bedriven from any suitable source of power. The apron is only used when itis not convenient to empty the bucket direct into vehicles and saidbuckets are of a conventional form adapted to hold the contents thereofuntil tilted. With one string of buckets entering the hole 6 while theloaded buckets are being raised it is obvious that earth can be quicklyremoved from the hole 6.

" The rails 84 may be solid partitions in the various units or may be ofskeleton construction so long as the moving buckets do not interferewith one another.

Spiral Gutter, eager, and operating mecham'sm.

(Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5.)

rEhe head 69 has an anti-frictional bearing 89 and extendingtherethrough is the outer shalt 90 of the lowermost unit, best shown inFig. 2. Mounted on the lower end of the outer shaft 90' is a conicalhead 91 rovided withv an anti-frictional bearing 92 d extending throughthis bearing and the outer shaft 90 is an inner shaft 93. The shafts 90and 93 are coupled to the inner and outer shafts of the superposed unitsand are consequently driven by the operating mechanism at the surfacemachine.

On the lower end of the shaft 93 is an auger 94 which bores into theground and assists in establishing the direction in which the hole 6 isto be bored. The upper end of the auger 94 has spiral serrated cuttingblades carried by the conical head 91 and the cutter blades 96 extendupwardly along the sides of the stationary head 69, so that besidesbeing a continuation of the serrated blades 95, said blades will causethe loosened earth to be carried upwardly and eventually discharged outo the spiral conveyor 7 5. The lower end of this spiralA conveyor 7 5supports a sleeve 97 and said conveyor 'terminates -in cutting teethandscoops 98 within the sleeve with the spiral conveyor serving as aspiral'cutter in the sleeve cooperating with the blades 96 4and this isaccomplished 'machine for revolving said adjoining spiral cutter blades96 small crater's conble for shale and indurate earth to be attacked bythe cutters forming part of the lowermost unitof the apparatus and inorder that there may be clearance for the revolving conveyors, thisconveyor portion of the lower unit may gradually taper from its upperend inwardly towards its lower end, with the exception of the sleeve 97which maintains the diameter of the hole 6 irrespective of its depth.

Consideringr the general o eration of the apparatus, it will be noted tat the operat` ing mechanism in the casing 8 is built so that the auger,cutting instrumentalities and conveyors may be all driven irrespectiveof the number of units interposed between the conveyors and the surface'machine,'the units being installed as -fast as the hole is bored,

sity of lining or providing the hole with casings, although the samenecessary in certain kinds of soil where the walls are liable to cavein. Y

With the surface machine a vehicle and the units carried by othervehicles the tractor may vehicles from one site to another, and sincethe operating mechanism is all assembled on the surface machine, theapparatus can be quickly and easily placed in operation.

What I claim is 1. A boring apparatus comprising a machine havingacasing, a tubular boring unit including spiral cutters adapted to enterthe ground below said machine, means on said other tubular units adaptedto between said borin means thereof so t at the hole may beprogressively bored, the operating means for be interpose may be used iffoundt boring limita without the necesbe employed for pulling the 'trainof unit and the operating i said boring unit extending through saidtubular units adjacent;` the walls of said units, an auger axially ofsaid tubular boring unit, and axial operating means for` said au erindependent ofthe operating means of ghe remainder ofthe borlng unit.

2. A baring apparatus comprising a machine having a casing, to enter theground below said machine, a driven turn-table in the casing of saidmachine Aadapted to rotate said boring unit, a

a boring unit adapted feed vscrew in said casing supporting said turntable for raising and owering said turn table, additional units ada tedto interposed between said boring unit and said machine so that a holemay be progressively bored, and circumferentially arranged *shafts and sindles adapted for transmitbored and an endless bucket conveyorextending from said machine to said boring unit and adapted to conveyloosened earth from said boring unit to said machine, said conveyorbeing disposed at one side of an axial plane of the additional units.

4.-. In a boring apparatus wherein a boring unit is su ported betweentrucks and adapted to be rlven into the earth to bore a hole, means forrotating said unit, said means comprising a horizontally disposed turntable having its peripheral portion detachably connected to said boringunit, a tractor for moving said apparatus and adapted to operate saidturn table when said apparatus 1s in position for boring a hole, meansdrivenby said tractor adapted for raising and lowering said turn tableand the boring lunit, connected thereto, and skeleton units adapted tobe interposed between said turn y.able and said boring unit to permit ofa hole being progressively bored.

5. In a boring apparatus wherein a borg unit is supported between trucksand adapted to be driven into the earth to bore a hole, means forrotating said unit, said means comprising a horizontally disposed vturntable, a tractor' for moving said apparatus and adapted for operatingsaid turn table when said apparatus is in position for boring a hole,means driven by said tractor ada ted for raising and lowering said turntab e and' the boring unit connected thereto, and an endless conveyoradapted to be operated by said tractor and passed through.

said turn table to said boring unit, said conveyor being composed ofbuckets guided by a rail between up and down going buckets.

v6. A boring unit for a boring apparatus, lcomprising a head, a rotaryspiral cutter at said head, a rotary auger at the end of said spiralcutter, means axially of said head for independently driving said cutterand said auger, andv a spiral driven conveyor. about said head andterminating in, cutting teeth.

',7. A boring unit as characterized in claim' 6, wherein 'said s iraldriven conveyor has its cutting teeth in a plane with the spiral cutterso: as to progressively form craters in the bottom of the hole fromwhich earth may be removed.A

8. A boring unit for a boring apparatus comprising uprights, spiraldischarge platforms between said uprights, an endless conveyor movablebetween saidA uprigbts and adapted to receive earth from said dischargeplatforms, a spiral conveyor about said uprights adapted to convey earthto said discharge platforms, and cutters at the lower ends of saiduprights adapted to loosen earth for said spiral conveyor.

9. A boring unit as in claim 8, wherein means at a remote point isadapted for independently operating said cutters and said spiralconveyor.

10. A boring unit for a boring apparatus,

comprising Ia head, independently driven cutters at said head, a spiralconveyor above said head adapted to receive earth loosened by saidcutters, and an endless conveyor adapted to receive earth from saidspiral conveyor, a portion of said endless conveyor extending into saidspiral conveyor.'

1l. In aborin apparatus, a boring unit, skeleton units adapted to beprogressively connected to one another with one of said skeleton unitsconnected to said boring unit,

said boring unit including cutters, discharge,l

platforms and means for transferring loosened earth from said cutters tosaid discharge platforms ;-and means operable through said skeletonunits for removing earth discharged from the platforms of said boringunit.

l2. A boring apparatus as in claim l1, wherein the last mentioned meansincludes an endless bucket conveyor.

13. In a boring apparatus, a boring unit, skeleton units adapted tobeprogressively connected to one another with one of said skeleton unitsconnected to said boring unit, said boring unit, comprising -a head,cutters at said head, means axially of said head and said skeleton unitsform operatin Tone of said cutters, and measabout said boring unit foroperating the other of said cutters.

14. A boring apparatus as in claim 13,:1I1d means extending through saidskeleton units to said head adapted to remove earth loosened by saidcutters. l

15. A boring unit comprising upright-s, a spiral cutter about saiduprights, means between said uprights for operating said spiral cutter,a discharge plat-form between said uprights adapted to receive earthfrom said spiral cutter, and a vertical endless conveyor between saiduprights adapted to receive earth from said discharge platform.

16. `ln an earth boring apparatus, -a transportable casing, a boringunit insert-able through said casing and adapted to bore a hole belowsaid casmg, mea-ns in said casing for operating said boring unit, saidboring unit including cutters independently operated from said operatingmeans, said operat- In testimony whereof I ax my signature ing meansbeing detachably connected to 1n 'presence of two Witnesses. said unit,and other units adapted to be interposed progressively `between saidboring THEOPHIL J. FREDAy 5 uni@ and its operating means so that saidVitnesses:

bormg unit may be operated at a point re- OTTO F. BARTHEL,

mote from said casing. ANNA M. DORR.

